Steam production



C. M. WILCOX.

STEAM PRODUCTION.

APPLlcATloN FILED MAR. 20. 1919.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

HOI new UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. WILcox, or NRW PARIS, omo, AssIGNoR or ONE-HALF 'ro CHARLES H.

' HARRIS, or NEW PARIS,- omo.

STEAM PRODUCTION.

T 0 all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. IVILcox, a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of New Paris, in the county of Preble, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Production, of which the following is a full,

clear, andcomprehensive specification and exposition, the same being such as will enable others to make and use the same with exactitude.

Heretofore, in the production of steam for mechanical purposes, it hasbeen usual to employ a steam generator, such as a coil, with such generator connected with the main water supply, and a` pump interposed between and located in the line connecting the generator and the water supply. Therefore when the pump become inoperative for any reason then the generator would be cut off from. the water supply. In other words, the pump must operate continuously, or nearly so, when steam is being drawn from the genf erator. My present invention providesr the means whereby the pump needv not be operated except at long intervals, and should the pump cease to function it will have no deleterious effect upon the generator, the steam being produced continuously for a long interval after the pump has ceased to operate.

The above is an intimation of the main features of this invention, by the incorporation of which the production of steam will be practically automatic and constant with very little manual considerationor attention. thereby especially adapting the steam engine to vehicular uses which has heretofore been found impractical in practice on accountl of the seeming impossibility of eliminating the objections which are overcome by my present invention.

Therefore themain object of this invention is the economical production of relative constant steam power, Withmeans for quick generation, constant and automatic water supply, and regular production without manual attention.

Various means may be employed for carrying out the principles of this invention in a workable and practical manner, but that which I have found to be the most simple and positive under all conditions is shown in the accompanying drawings` lin which- Figure 1 shows an outside elevation of a construction embodying the principles of my Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug 2.1, 1920,

4 Application tiled March 20, 1919. Serial No. 283,872.

invention in workable relations to each other. f

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section, as taken" through the construction shown in Fig. l.

Similar indices denote like parts through both views.

. In order that the principles and the application of my invention may be more fully visualized and appreciated I will now take up a detailed description thereof. in which. I will set forth the preferred construction and the operation thereof as fully and as comprehensively as I may. j

In order to carry out the invention I provide a water-holding and pressure retalning tank, having an outer shell A, which merges into the top B, with the latter merging into the neck C which extendsup from the center of the top. Letter D denotes the inner wall of th tank. The lower end of the inner wall is connected with the lower end of the shell A from which it projects upward convergently to the base of the neck C where it is again rigidly secured and forms the Hue By the above I provide a hollow circular chamber E which surrounds the heating chamber F, which latter is large at its bot.

double-coil generator: the larger coil Land the smaller coil J. Said coils'are arranged concentric of each other, the coil I being near the wall D and conforming with the taper thereof, and the coil J being located within the convolutions of the coil I. The directions of the convolutions of the two coils are disposed opposite to each other, that is to sayone is coiled to the right and the other to the left. The two coils are integrally united at the top, that is at the point indicated by K, by which they form in fact one continuous coil.' Connected with the lower end of the coil I is a pipe L, which `eX- tends out laterally through the base G. Conv tending up therefrom, and on the upper end of the latter is the elbow 3 which carries the linwardly directed nipple 4. Connected on the nipple 4 is the check-valve 5. Numeral 6 denotes a hand operable cut-off valve,

Vwhich is connected to the check-valve 5 by a nipple 7. And the valve 6 is connected with the interior of the lowerportion of the chamber E (that is below the water line X) by the nipple or pipe 8 inserted into the wall A. The valve tongue 9 of the check-valve 5 is adapted to open outward onl that is it permits passage from the tank bu into the tank therethrough. i

Connected on the lu per endof the pipe M, and above the' flue. is the T-fitting 10. Connected with one opening of the fittin 10 is the lateral pipe 11, Ion the outer en of which is the,elbo;w -.12, with the vertical pipe .13y extend-ingidown therefrom, and on the lower end of the latter is the elbow 14 which carries the nipple 15. Connected with the nipple 15 is the check-valve 16 which is connectedwith the interior of the upper portion of the tank by lthe nipple 17. That is to say the line just described is connected with the 1 chamber E at a point above the water level X.

y The valve tongue 18, of the check-valve 16, is adapted to open inward only, that is it permits passage into the chamber E but pre'- venting passage therefrom. A 4

Extending from the third opening ofthe T-fitting 1 0 is, the pipe 19 which is connected with the T-fitting 20.v Extending from said fitting 20 is'the pipe 21- which connects with the hand operable cut-off valve l22, and continuing out from the latter is the usable steam pipe 23, through which steam is conducted to an engine or otherwise to be used as desired. Connected with the T-it- -tin 20 is the steam'pressure indicator 24.

etter N denotes a glass water gage or indicator, which isconnected with the two hand operable cut-off valves P and Q which are connected intothe tank wall A, that is into the chamber E, through the respective vT-fttin'gs U and V, which are located above and below the water line X.

Extending out from the fitting U is the pipe R vwphlch extends to the elbowh S to which is connected the pressure age T.

- Connected .withthe fitting V 1s the nipple W, and. to the latter'is attached the hand .p operable cut-off valve Y. And extending from the valve Y is. the pipe Z, which may extend to a pump adapted to d raw water from a mainl water supply and force it into the tank.

t not passage located in the combustion chamber and below the coils. Extending out from the burner is a fuel feed pipe 26 which is connected with the hand operable valve 27. And extending out from the valve 27 is the pi e 28 which leads to the fuel supply.

odas operandi: It is to be understood that the valves P and Q are to be open at all times except when replacing'the water indicator N or when making repairs. In order to accelerate starting my device it is suggested that air may be lfirst pumped into the chamber E above the water line X. This may be done in anumber of ways: through the pet-cock 29; through the pipe Z; or through a special tap inthe wall of the shell P resuming now that the valves 27, 6, 22 and Y are closed, and that a supply of water be in the tank, to approximately the height indicated. Now the valve 27 may be partly opened to admit the fuel to the burner 25, which may then be lighted in the usual manner. The heat rising from the combustion of the fuel manifestly willv quickly heat the water in'the coils I and J, and the surplus` heat will-be absorbed by the wall D and thereby raise the temperature of the water in the tank, thereby utilizing practically all of the heat from the lfuel consumed.

'Now as heat is generated' in the coils the pressure or expansive force thereof passing up thro-ugh ,thepipe M will be conducted through'the pipes 11` and 13, and as it may pass through the check-valve 16 it is evident that the surplus pressure will accumulate in the chamber E above the water-line X. Therefore when sufficient pressure has accumulated in the chamber E the valve 6 may be opened thereby permitting the pressure tin the chamber E to force the water from vthe tank through the check-valve `5 and the pipes 2 and L into the lower convolutions of the outer coil I. The water as it enters the coils will be' almost instantly converted into steam which will press upward following the various convolutions of the coil I, and then reversing and passing down- Ward through the various convolutions of the coil J, and then again reversing and passing upward through -the pipe M,- and then continuing lit-wil pass through the pipes 11 and 13 and the check-valve 16 into the chamber E. It should be noticed that the pressure is compelled t'o. .travel the route matically maintained and that without the employment of a pump or other means.

Itis evident that the pressure in the coils Aand in the tank willbe practically uniform up to this point and therefore the gages 2st and T will record practically the same degree of pressure. 1

Then as the pressure attains the proper usable degree, say one-hundred for instance, the workable pressure may then be drawn olf through the pipe 23 by simply opening the valve 22. This last operation will for the moment reduce the pressure indicated in the gage 21 to approximately ninety pounds, but as the check-valve 16 will not permit back pressure therefore the g'age 'I will continue -to indicate one-hundred pounds. But this degree of pressure will of course cause the water to be forced from the tank into the coils thereby slightly reducing the pressure in the tank, to be immediately followed by generation of steam in the coils again raising the pressure indicated by the gage 21 to one-hundred pounds, while for an instant the gage T may indicate ninety pounds, but the pressure in the tank will be immediatelyv restored by the surplus pressure entering the chamber E through the check-valve 16.

By reason of the above it is clear that a constant and uniform supply of warm water will be supplied automaticallyy to the generator or coils in the exact ratio of the requil-ement for economical production of surplus usable steam pressure.

It is also evident that by this arrangement the loss of moisture or water will be practically mf?, the only loss being in the steam drawn off through the pipe 23. and as the pressure drawn off willv be dry-steam, for the reason that the steam will be superheated before being drawn off by reason of the concentrated heat applied, more partielllarly, to the upper portion of the pipe M,

the fitting 10, and the pipe 19, through which the usable steam must pass. Finally,-

however, after a long interval the waterline X will be lowered to such a degree that it should be renewed, the same being determined by means of the indicator N.

-Therefore to replenish the tankl I have only to open the valve Y, allowing water to be forced, into the tank through the pipe Z,

which `may be accomplished in any well known manner, as for instance by a forcepump not shown. v

By reason of the tank being formed as a jacket to surround the generator orcoils it is manifest that the water will be preheated before entering the generator, thereby hastening the production of steam, and economizing in the use of fuel. However the tank and the generator may be disassociated without departing from the principles of the invention herein set forth.

I desire that it be understood that various changes may be made in the various details of this invention and the several parts may be otherwise arranged with relation to each other without departingfrom the spirit of the invention and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof which are new and useful. y

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A construction of the nature set forth comprising a tank forming a water jacket, steam generating coils located in the hollow of the tank, a pipe-line connecting one termini of the coils with the interior of the tank below the water level, a check-valve interposed in said pipe-line to prevent back pressure from the coils to the tank, a pipe-line connecting the other termini of the coils with the interior of the tank above the water level, a check-valve interposed in said second ,l pipe-line to prevent back pressure from the means for permittingwater to pass only4 from the tank into the generator, means for lpermitting excess steam pressure to pass from the generator into space above the water level in the tank, valves preventing passage in directions opposite to that stated, means for ,taking usabley steam from the generator, and means whereby the steam will be superheated before being used.

3. That improvementin steam production which includes a reverse coil steam generator, a tank surrounding the generator, means for permitting water to pass only from the tank to the generator, means for permitting the excess steam pressure to pass from the gen` erator into the space above the water level of the tank, mea-ns for preventing pressure to pass in the opposite'directions from that above stated, means for taking usable steam from the generator, and means whereby the steam will be superheated before being used.

1. A construction of the nature set forth comprising in combination a water and pressure holding tank surrounding a heating chamber which extends centrally throughthe tank and taper convergently upwardly to the top of the tank forming aliue at the top of the tank. a base supporting the tank and the other terminal of the generator bey ing extended upward through said flue. a

series of piping connecting the upper ter-l minal of the generator with the mterior of the tank at a pointabove the water level in the tank, a check-valve interposed in said .piping permitting passage only into the vtank from the generator, a second-series of piping connecting the lower terminal of the generator with the interior of the tank at a point below the-water level in the tank, a check valve interposed in said second series of pip? funnel-shaped heating chamber terminating f in a flue at the top, a coil generator located in said heating chamber and formed of a single length of pipe extending spirally from the bottom'of the heating chamber upward in decreasing convolutions, then extending downward in increasing convolutions within and concentric of the first convolutions, and then lextending straight upward through the center of all of said convolutions `and through said flue, piping connecting the upper end of the straight portion of the generator with the interior of the tank at a point above the water level thereof, a checkvalve connected in said piping and adapted to prevent outward flow from the tank, a second series of piping connected with the lower convolution of the outer set of convolutions of the generator and extending into the tank below the water level thereof, a check-valve in said second series of piping to permit passage from the generator into the tank, means for withdrawing usable pressure from the generator and the tank, and means for heating the generator, all substantially as shown andA described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification in the presence of the subscribin witnesses. CHARLE M. WILCOX, Witnesses: v l Mrs. C. M. WILcoX, Mrs. C. H. HARRIS, Ro'r. W. RANDLE, R. E. RANDLE. 

